HELLO GUYS! I'M HOME!

Yeah, I've missed writing the story of my alternate Season 3. So, I've decided that I might as well get started on the next one. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, bucks and does and others assembled personages, here we go!

"Bobstone guess is... one."

Dandelion removed his paw from the stone to reveal one stone there. Hawkbit watched on in amusement as Piper beamed. Dandelion grumpily glared at Hawkbit.

"Oh shut it."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it. Anyway, best two out of three, young un? For your old uncle Dandelion?"

Piper nodded. Dandelion cheered up a little. Hawkbit, however, was still grinning.

"This is the last time I ever let you play against Piper. Where's your credibility going Dandelion? You used to be the Bobstones champion, just be glad we're not playing for the title."

Dandelion shot a glare at Hawkbit, who was quietly examining Clover, who was helping their other babies feed on the grass.

"Well, it's just beginners luck."

"It was credible the first time. The third? Not so much."

"Oh shut it."

Bigwig looked up. He turned to Hazel, with a worried look in his eyes. "Shouldn't Keehar be back by now?"

Hazel frowned. "Yes. Yes he should. I'm worried about those mice."

"What, the one's from Hannah's warren? We drove them off."

Hazel sighed, "Yes, but they managed to travel all the way from the human's warren just to get their paws on her. I mean, for all we know they could be hiding and-"

Bigwig placed a paw on the back of Hazel's neck. "I think you're getting a bit paranoid. Which is unfair on me, because that's usually my job."

"Don't let Dandelion hear you say that, he'll never let you forget it."

...

"Marjoram"

Marjoram stood smartly to attention as the General lept from his pedestal. The powerful leader walked back and forth, examining the lean, fast rabbi.

"Vervain tells me that your uncle had some experience in the council."

"Yes sir. He tried his best to serve you."

"I remember that he was a fast talker. Perhaps you've picked some of that up."

Marjoram raised his eyebrow. "Sir?"

"After the failed attack in the tunnel, I've been sensing a lack of morale. So, I believe that in order to strike at the outsiders warren, we should try and scout out beyond the local territory. They say there is a warren, near a farm. Unlike Cowslip's however, the rabbits there act as normal ones do. Seek it out, and see if you can persuade them to tell you anything they know about Hazel. Take Moss and Chervil with you."

"Yes sir."

...

Blackberry sat down to silflay, and as she did, she tried to relax. Sadly, the events that were plauging her mind didn't help. She was about to say something, when Vilthuril hesitantly walked up.

"Ah, hello Blackberry."

"Hello Vilthuril. Settling in okay?"

"Yeeeees. It's a little hard to get used to, after so long of being told what to do and when to do it."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"You look worried.

Blackberry nibbled on a small dockleaf. "Well, it's nothing much, it's just I'm worried about the size of the warren."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

The two does ran down into the Honeycomb, Blackberry led the new friend over to one of the tunnels. "It's nothing much, but we're going to need to dig down a little deeper if we're to get more room for the new arrivals. It's mating season soon, and that means more kittens."

"I wish I could help."

"Don't worry, I'll think of something."

...

Chervil grimaced as he noticed the warren. Moss was sniffing around the ground, looking for a scent.

"So, any chance in Frith's sake that these rabbits aren't as completely nutty as Cowslip?"

"According to the General-" put in Marjoram "-this warren isn't that far down the line. Which doesn't mean that we can't take some precautions."

"Such as?" queried Moss.

"We've all got supreme training. Even if the cowardly ithe Campion abandoned us, he still taught us enough. These rabbits will barely have time to squeal before we're on them."

Moss grimaced. "Must you enjoy your work so much?"

"It's what I am. And anyway... Hello."

"What?"

"Look over there. I think the General would be rather pleased with us if we came back with Hazel and Bigwig in tow, wouldn't you?" What Marjoram had sighted was Hazel and Bigwig heading towards a nearby farm.

"And what, pray tell, makes you think that we three will be able to succeed where Vervain, Campion and even the General himself failed?" Chervil was increasingly growing agitated. He came from the same mould as Vervain, cowardly, not willing to go to the lengths that Marjoram would.

"Campion was a traitor to us all. For all we know, he could have made a alliance the second the outsiders stepped into Efrafa. Vervain's a coward, he'd run as soon as a butterfly landed on his tail. And as for the General... well, he's not getting any younger is he?"

Moss, meanwhile, was slowly wondering about that night that Blackaver had had him at his mercy. He wondered briefly if Campion hadn't had the right idea all along. He suddenly tensed. "Chervil, what did you call that warren?"

"Doesn't have a name. Why?"

"Because, they're heading straight for the maze. Which-"

Marjoram spotted something. "Ah. See that hole in the earth? Dig through there, and we may be able to get the drop on them without alerting the warren to our presence."

Slowly, the three rabbits advanced.

...

Vilthuril smiled as she nibbled the long grass in the sunshine. It was a rather peaceful day, and the only noises she could hear, was the buzzing of the bees and the sound of Dandelion and Hawkbit arguing in the background.

"Look mate, just because my son is better at Bobstones than you-"

"Oh, we're going there are we!?" Then came the sound of a scuffle, and the two rabbits rolled down the hill, fighting each other. Clover took one look at her mate's fight, rolled her eyes and gently steered Piper towards the other kits.

Vilthuril was suddenly aware of a much older rabbit, a buck by the sound of it, standing at the foot of the down, looking puzzled. Cautiously, she ventured down.

"Excuse me? But who are you?"

"Ah, so sorry my dear, the seasons have given me much, but they also taken much as well. I was just trying to get a little silflay when I tripped over my bally legs. And I was trying to get back up."

"Are you from the warren then?"

"Oh I should say so, I'm a little older now, so I'm usually in one of the other burrows, to rest myself. Thought I'd come up for a bit, to see the sun."

He smiled. "It's been a long time since I've seen the sun."

...

Hazel paused, and turned to Bigwig. "So, are you sure that Buttercup will want to see us?"

"Well, we could certainly use some help if we are to finish Efrafa off for good." He stopped, and sniffed the air. "Is that-?"

"Eli." Hazel was grim. "I think we'll have to put off this visit for another day." He then spotted something in the sky, and as he glanced up, he suddenly felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Look, it's Keehar."

"Something's gone right today at least."

Meanwhile, underneath them, Chervil grunted as he struggled through the tunnel. It was relatively tight, enough room to move forward or backwards, but none to even think of stretching a paw.

With one final pop, he struggled into a burrow leading into a large warren. Behind him, he heard Marjoram stagger through, looking like he would murder the next rabbit who suggested using tunnels.

At that moment, there was a rumble, and with a mighty crash, earth smashed down, covering the tunnel and Moss.

What they didn't know, was that the farmer who worked near the warren had needed to eliminate certain areas because of safety hazards. So that day, he had ordered Samson and Co's Builders to come along in a bulldozer and remove these hazards. Moss was now trapped among the compacted earth.

Chervil stared at Marjoram. "You first."

"No, you."

"You were the one who said we should go in the tunnel."

"You were the one who didn't want to face Hazel head on."

The two looked at the former tunnel.

"Still, Moss's fault I suppose."

"Always too slow."

"The General won't miss him."

"No"

The two smirked, then walked out. By now, Buttercup and the others were beginning to arrive. Chervil adopted a sad expression. "The homba got him! Our friend!"

Buttercup gently lead the two weeping rabbits away, unaware of the smirks they had on their faces.

...

Slowly, the earth shifted, and a rabbit, battered and scarred, crawled out.

Moss was alive.

And he was not happy.

...

Hawkbit and Piper were watching as Dandelion tried desperately to figure out the Bobstones answer. He failed. As father and son laughed, they became aware of Frith setting, and they returned to the Honeycomb to join with the rest of their family.

Blackberry laughed as she saw Vilthuril tumble onto the ground beside her. The doe picked herself up, and tried to make herself look calm. "Sorry about that."

"Nothing to worry about. I don't suppose you'll be heading down for a rest soon."

"In a moment."

As Blackberry moved off, Vilthuril spotted two approaching figures in the distance, who resembled Hazel and Bigwig. She was then aware of the rabbit from earlier appearing.

"Hello. Are you okay?"

"Oh yes my dear. I'm fine. I didn't catch your name earlier on?"

"Oh, sorry. It's Vilthuril."

"A lovely name."

"What's your name?"

The stranger took a moment to answer.

"Broom. Captain Broom."

(DUN. DUN. DA!)